SeaBeLife, a biotechnology company based in Roscoff, France, has announced in vivo clinical results for its SBL03 drug candidate, an ophthalmic gel aimed to combat necrotic retinal cell death in geographic atrophy (GA). The company’s data propose a solution “for the millions of patients faced with irreversible sight loss, for whom there is no available treatment in Europe.” SBL03 is a dual inhibitor of regulated necrotic cell death, formulated as an ophthalmic gel for topical delivery in the form of eyedrops. SeaBeLife’s solution aims to “prevent patients from experiencing sight loss associated with retinal degeneration, by directly targeting the cells affected by the disease, whatever its origin.”
SeaBeLife, founded in March 2019, received further seed funding in Sept. 2023 from the iXLife fund, including business angel networks in France. The investment is aimed to finance the regulatory development of several drug candidates, for ocular disorders and acute liver disease, protected by patented technologies that targets regulated cell death pathways. The company is focused on identifying a new class of drug candidates able to deprogram necrotic cell death, founded by Morgane Rousselot (CEO, PhD in Biochemistry in UPMC-CNRS-Station Biologique de Roscoff), an entrepreneur who has already participated in the founding of several start-ups.
Figure 1. A chemistry engineer from ENSCMu with a doctorate in structural biology from the University Paris VI, Morgane Rousselot has over 20 years of experience in developing active pharmaceutical ingredients in biotechnology startups and in the pharmaceutical industry. Morgane participated in the founding of two innovative startups, she was co-founder of Hemarina (2007-2015) and vice-president of quality for Tolerys (2015-2016). In 2022, she won the Prix de l’Entrepreneur des Trophées des femmes de l’industrie.
According to the company, SBL03-treated eyes in preclinical models show significant protection of structural and functional integrity of the retina, following induced retinal degeneration. Therapeutic effects were evaluated using functional and structural analysis in vivo (electroretinography – ERG; optical coherence tomography – OCT; fundus autofluorescence – FAF), along with post mortem quantitative histological testing. The various parameters examined in their studies showed that repeated topical ocular treatment with SBL03 has a protective effect against retinal degeneration compared with placebo. The company stated that, “the data highlights the ability of SBL03 to infiltrate the different parts of the eye and reach its target tissue, the retina, in adequate concentration.”
Prof. Jean-François Korobelnik, professor of ophthalmology at the Bordeaux University Hospital, France commented that, “the preclinical results achieved with SBL03 are highly promising and open up new opportunities in the treatment of degenerative retinal disorders. The combination of targeted action and topical delivery makes it a particularly promising solution for preserving patients’ sight and therefore their quality of life.” In addition, the founder, Morgane Rousselot, PhD, CEO stated that, “compared with current treatments, available only in the US, including intravitreal injections, the topical method of delivery used for SBL03 could considerably improve patient comfort and adherence for this chronic disorder, which requires life-long treatment. It would provide a promising alternative that could transform the care of patients who currently lack a satisfactory or well-tolerated treatment option”. While the announcement provides an early stage of the process the company aims of conducting an initial clinical trial in humans in 2026 and this may provide a new class of pharmaceutical agents with a high unmet demand for geographic atrophy.